Towers of San Gimignano, Outside theWalls 1883

Joseph Pennell made this etching of the Towers of San Gimignano using a metal plate, acid, and ink. The effect of the etching process is delicate: the varying densities of line create a full tonal range, describing a panoramic view. To make the print, Pennell would have painstakingly covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then drawn his composition, before bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves which hold the ink. The plate is then wiped clean, forcing ink to remain only in the etched lines. Finally, damp paper is pressed firmly against the plate, transferring the image. This labor-intensive method was traditionally valued for its ability to produce multiple originals, spreading images widely. In Pennell's hands, we see the confluence of a mass medium with fine art. He elevates printmaking to capture the beauty of the Italian landscape, challenging us to reconsider the boundary between art and craft.